Rose-hip supplements 'reduce arthritis pain'

Arthritis sufferers could benefit from a new herbal remedy made from rose-hips, according to recent research.

A team of scientists from the University of Copenhagen have claimed that extracts from rose-hip, containing anti-inflammatory compounds, resulted in an 82 per cent drop in pain in control patients after just three weeks.

The new research could help millions of osteoarthritis sufferers across the country ease painful joints.

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Current painkillers are effective over a short period of time, but experts advise against long term use as medicines such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding if used for a long time.

"As doctors we would want to encourage patients not to take strong conventional painkillers for long periods of time," Dr Rod Hughes, consultant rheumatologist at St Peter's hospital in Surrey told the Daily Mail.

"If [patients] can reduce what they are taking or take a supplement with no side effects, which gives them a good response, then that is a sensible course of action."

The team of researchers discovered that the 94 patients testing the product only needed half as much rose-hip supplements as traditional painkillers to stem their discomfort.

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